SKATES...SHMATES!!!

Botta said he’s heard this complaint from “dozens” of others in the game, so it will be interesting to watch if it becomes another trendy theory and a special committee is formed for Examination of Skate Stiffness.

Seriously, I had a similar reaction: 1) Doesn’t each player customize and tinker with his skates? 2) Isn’t post-lockout, obstruction-free hockey — where you have to truly backcheck rather than water ski — plus continued shitty ice make for greater physical demands on groins and hips?

It won’t become a trend. I can say that with absolute certainty. The HECC already presides over all hockey equipment in North America and even the custom skate business is highly controlled. The hockey equipment manufacturer’s will most likely do more testing as a result but I doubt anything will be discovered which hasn’t already been addressed. Don’t forget that companies like Bauer (thank goodness I don’t have to say Nike anymore), Graf, CCM/Maska, Easton, Mission, etc. do extensive R&D before releasing products. The skates I’m in now, Graf Ultra G3’s, took 5 years of development before they were released to the public and pros alike. The torsional stiffness for top-of-the-line models like mine is the way it is for a reason. I chose to make them that stiff based on the criteria I provided above (weight, skating competence).

Botta’s report of “dozens” of players is an exaggeration in my opinion. If they are complaining about a piece of equipment it is usually in the durability department. Plus, if they can customize to whatever spec they want, then it is hypocritical at best to criticize their own choices.

I would definitely say that the increased physical demands and crappy ice conditions are the related factors to the increase in injury problems in the NHL.